The Intrepid Bear Cabernet Franc 2011, Lodi, California (£9.99 Virgin Wines) Has the tar character of Cab Franc, and some ripe berry flesh, but it’s too jammy and confected (remember Jammie Dodger biscuits?) and the finish is slightly flat and dry. C(+) The Second Chapter Cabernet Sauvignon 2010, Western Cape, […]
California
Viñalba Reserva Chardonnay 2012, Mendoza, Argentina (£10.99 Majestic) Weighs in at 14.5% but it carries it well, with perky peach and plumper melon flavours pepped up by a slightly nutty note. Like a rounder Mâcon wine. B(-) Panamera Chardonnay 2011, California (N/A in the UK) Slightly stolid style, with not […]
Wine Tasting Video: Chardonnay from Argentina, California, Chile, South Africa, ...
Wind Gap Syrah 2008, Sonoma County, California (£27.72 Vineyard Cellars) Combines a smoky bacon-fat note with gentle berry and plum fruit, wonderful herby freshness and streak of minerality. Would be hard pushed to spot this as a Californian red. S(+) Charles Smith Boom Boom! Syrah 2010, Columbia Valley, Washington State […]
Wine Tasting Video: US Syrah from California & Washington State
Harvey Nichols Pinot Noir 2010 (Framingham), Marlborough, New Zealand (£18.00 Harvey Nichols) Reasonable plummy strawberry flavours with a touch of spice, but there’s also a stewed edge that speaks of slightly heavy-handed winemaking and just-too-ripe fruit. B(-) Louis Latour Mercurey Rouge 2009, Burgundy, France (£16.99 slurp.co.uk, The Wine Cellar, T […]
Wine Tasting Video: Pinot Noir from Marlborough, Burgundy & Sonoma ...
Seven Springs Unoaked Chardonnay 2011, Overberg, South Africa (£11.25-£12.25 Loki Wine, Bijou Bottles, Proteas Wines, Underwood Wines, C. A. Rookes, S.H. Jones, Frasers Budgens (Yarnton), City Beverage Company) Good punchy style, with quite flesh peach and pear flavours and some nutty, leesy richness balanced by a zesty citrus and mineral […]
Wine Tasting Video: Chardonnays from California & South Africa
Hush Heath Skye’s English Chardonnay 2010, Kent, England (£20 hushheath.com) Clean, bright style wine some Chablisque flinty notes, piercing citrus and apple fruit, a touch of nuttiness and a salty mineral tang. B(+) Ocean Eight Verve Chardonnay 2010, Mornington Peninsula, Australia (~£25 Hallowed Ground) Pure precise style, lightly cooked apple […]